POPCRU calls for community–police unity after Bekkersdal Tavern mass shooting

The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) is calling for a united effort between community members and law enforcement agencies to combat crime following a mass shooting at a tavern in Bekkersdal.

Nine people were killed and ten others injured in the attack on Sunday morning.

No arrests have been made yet, but ten people have been identified as suspects.

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POPCRU said the incident raises serious concerns about the use and abuse of firearms, especially unlicensed and illegal ones.

Union spokesperson Richard Mamabolo added that such violent crimes terrorise residents, destabilise neighbourhoods and undermine social cohesion within communities.

“POPCRU reiterates that crime cannot be defeated by the police alone. Sustainable safety and security require a united front between communities and law enforcement agencies. We, therefore, call on residents of Bekkersdal and surrounding areas, and communities across the country, to actively cooperate with the police by sharing information that can lead to the arrest and successful prosecution of those responsible for these killings.”